Taxonomic notes
According to Powell (1957: 412), the type material is "...best interpreted simply as a form of Fucus vesiculosus L. lacking true vesicles." On the other hand, Rice & Chapman (1985: 449) indicate that morphometric characters suggest "...an equal probability of being F. evanescens or F. vesiculosus. If the specimen is indeed Fucus evanescens then it is the earliest name for this complex. Here, we have followed Powell's suggestion.